Symptomatic forearm muscle hernia: repair by autologous fascia lata inlay

Eleven cases of symptomatic muscle hernias of the forearm requiring surgical intervention have been described previously. Pain on extremity exertion and an unaesthetic bulge of the forearm were the primary indications for surgery. Advocated treatment modalities range from forearm fasciotomy to anatomic repair of the fascial defect. Although fasciotomy relieves the narrow fascial constriction around the herniated muscle reliably, it often yields an unappealing forearm deformity and incomplete resolution of pain on extremity exertion. Anatomic repair provides the theoretical advantage of restoring normal muscle fascia relationships while concomitantly improving the aesthetic appearance of the extremity. The authors report a case of symptomatic forearm muscle herniation treated successfully with an autologous fascia lata inlay graft.